TV still rules, as does WJAR in RI
Television is still king amid the fast-changing media landscape, the Associated Press reports (h/t tvnewsday.com).
NEW YORK — Fewer Americans are reading newspapers and are instead getting their news online, but television remains the leading source of news in the country, according to a survey released Sunday.
Not surprisingly, younger people tend to get more of their news on the Internet, while older folks use traditional media such as television and newspapers, the Pew Research Center's biannual survey on news consumption habits said.
Closer to home, Broadcasting & Cable has an update on the Providence-New Bedford market area:
The market took in $75.5 million in 2007, per BIA, with a slight bump forecasted for '08. WJAR led with $31.2 million, trailed by LIN CBS outlet WPRI with $18.6 million, the Super Towers-owned Fox outlet WNAC with $11.5 million and Global Broadcasting's ABC affiliate WLNE ($9.3 million). Four Points Media owns CW affiliate WLWC.
Despite a fourth-place finish in primetime in May, WJAR easily won total day ratings, along with morning, evening and late news. Its 9.5 household rating/19 share at 11 p.m. beat WPRI's 6.1/12, and WJAR scored a heavy win at 6 a.m. with a 7.9/32. The station starts an interactive advertising test with Backchannel Media in September.
But WJAR's rivals have made up ground. WLNE gained a percent point in revenue share in 2007, reports BIA, while WNAC gained a point and a half. Primetime leader WPRI has a local marketing agreement with WNAC, and Howell is stoked about a morning show launching on the Fox affiliate in January. The 8 a.m. program, a mix of news, entertainment and local flavor, will start off as an hour and expand to two. Howell is employing a unique means for finding a host: an American Idol-inspired local talent search. “It'll be a very Rhode Island show,” he says.
WLNE, bought by Global in October, has a new boss in Steve Doerr, who shifts from a consulting gig with AR&D. Doerr is quarterbacking a news and sales overhaul. He brought in anchor Allison Alexander, whom he knows from his days as news director at WOIO Cleveland, and launched a 4 p.m. news in January, replacing syndicated fare. Doerr points out year-over-year ratings growth in nearly all newscasts for four straight sweeps.
That 4 p.m. slot is shaping up as a key battleground. WPRI's Judge Judy was the highest-rated syndicated show in May, barely topping WJAR's Oprah Winfrey. Doerr likes that WLNE offers the only local option at 4. “We really feel local news is the key to our future,” he says. “It's what we do best.”